Phoebe is a typical example of ignorance so far as nutrition and its links to fitness are concerned. She cannot control her diet but suddenly overreaches herself in trying to be fit by playing football that results in injury. Phoebe being young her wound will heal but what should be done so that it does not recur to her or to anyone else anywhere?
First – the food angle. The principal target is the stabilization of blood sugar levels and nourishing the brain with the right type of food at the right times. Protein and whole grains come high on the list. Small healthy meals throughout the day will convert the food into energy. Secondly coming to the problem of weight we tend to focus on numbers of kilos instead of lifestyles. Success in this field means adapting to lifestyles that will change eating and behavioral habits to affect the total mental and physical framework of the individual (Ortega, 2008).
Instead of one grand plan, it is better to set small goals, reach them and then move forward. Plans must be viable and practical like fixing the calorie intake to 250 and 30 minutes of exercise per day. Keeping a chart will be encouraging and motivating – like say jogging for 30 minutes at a speed of 5 mph. There are innumerable charts that will set out the targets. For instance, a 5’7” woman should weigh 171 pounds (Monyeki, 2008). Aerobics like jogging, cycling, and climbing stairs improve the operations of the heart and lungs as well as the circulatory system. For total body movement, the best is skiing, rowing, and needless to add swimming. Flexing is important to avoid injury, back pain; it restores body balance (Bergeron, 2007).
The root culprit is twofold – our lifestyle and the application of one cure right across the globe. What suits Tom in the North Pole will not suit Mary in the South. There are gender and age differences to be taken into consideration. For this, the ancient time-tested method of yoga is gaining popularity. Yoga means to be yoked – yoking the body and the mind with the world around us. Today in our daily functions we either sit or stand and hardly ever bend or squat. Certain simple rules will be effective like sitting cross-legged while watching the television for instance will be of great help (Ortega, 2008).
Leo Tolstoy drove his sled to gather firewood which he chopped to light the fire before sitting down to write. Here the exercise stimulates not only the body but refreshes the mind with the sights, sounds, and fragrance of the outdoors. Doing one’s own personal chores is invigorating and adds to a feeling of independence and self-esteem. But today we have become reliant on modern gadgets to a point of harm. Bernard Shaw would always take a walk and find something new although his stretch sometimes happened to be the same – day in and day out. The walk was a challenge to his body, mind, and spirits. Both Shaw and Tolstoy were vegetarians. They believed that meat puts too much pressure on the body functions that ultimately leads to more wear and tear.
The diet should be in keeping with the climate and the soil of the place where one resides. In cold countries, certain types of food are required but it is harmful if taken in the tropics (Bergeron, 2007). Thus instead of regimented exercises let daily life easily flow along well-trodden paths that have been recognized as healthy for thousands of years.
References
Bergeron, M.F. (2007). Improving health through youth sports: Is participation enough? New Directions for Youth Development, 2007(115), 27-41.
Monyeki, A.M. (2008). Longitudinal relationships between nutritional status, body composition, and physical fitness in rural children of South Africa: The Ellisras longitudinal study. American Journal of Human Biology 19(4), 551-558.
Ortega, F.B. (2008). High fitness is associated with healthier programming of body composition in adolescence. American Journal of Human Biology, 20(6), 732-734.